Patent EA-000373-B1 (EA)
Title: Plasma pyrolysis and vitrification of municipal waste
Inventor: CAMACHO SALVADOR L
IPC: C03B5/00
Filed: 1996-08-27
Abstract: 1. Apparatus for the pyrolysis and vitrification of mixed waste as exemplified by municipal solid waste, comprising: (a) a reactor providing a waste processing chamber with a hearth at the bottom of the chamber and above said hearth enclosing top panel and side wall structure; (b) delivery means for delivering said mixed waste to said reactor, comprising: (i) a storage receptacle for receiving a bulk supply of mixed waste to be processed; (ii) a compactor associated with said receptacle and operative to receive from said receptacle and compact successive quantities of said mixed waste with minimum entry of air and transfer said mixed waste as an elongated compacted mass of substantially uniform cross section to a first location proximate said top panel structure; (iii) a waste inlet at a second location proximate said first location for receiving compacted waste to be processed within said reactor, said waste inlet being configured for receiving selected pardons of said compacted waste removed from said elongated compacted mass; and (iv) a transporter operable in coordination with the forming of said elongated compacted mass of waste at said first location for moving said selected portions of said compacted elongated mass through said waste inlet into said chamber, and (c) an elongated plasma arc torch mounted in said chamber and providing a source of plasma heat at a discharge end thereof directed toward said hearth for the pyrolysis and vitrification of said waste delivered to said reactor. 2. The apparatus for die pyrolysis and vitrification of mixed waste as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said selected portions moved by said transporter are of substantially uniform size and enter said chamber from said waste inlet as substantially uniform blocks of compacted waste. 3. The apparatus for the pyrolysis and vitrification of mixed waste as claimed in Claim 1 including means for admitting controlled amounts of air in coordination with the moving of said selected portions through said waste inlet. 4. The apparatus for the pyrolysis and vitrification of mixed waste as claimed in Claim 1 including means for admitting controlled amounts of steam in coordination with the moving of said selected portions through said waste inlet. 5. The apparatus for the pyrolysis and vitrification of mixed waste according to Claim 2 including a sensor for measuring the level of waste in said chamber and coordinating the admission of said uniform blocks of compacted waste with said level. 6. The apparatus for the pyrolysis and vitrification of mixed waste as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said plasms arc torch is pivotably mounted to said top panel structure of said chamber. 7. The apparatus for the pyrolysis and vitrification of mixed waste as claimed in Claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said top panel structure is oriented at an acute angle with respect to horizontal. 8. The apparatus for the pyrolysis and vitrification of mixed waste as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising an outlet for the removal of gas produced during pyrolysis from said apparatus positioned at an upper portion thereof. 9. The apparatus for me pyrolysis and vitrification of mixed waste as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said outlet comprises a peripherally disposed manifold for collecting and conducting said gas from apparatus. 10. A process for the pyrolysis and vitrification of mixed solid waste, comprising the steps of: (a) establishing an upright reactor for processing waste having; (i) an inlet for receiving mixed solid waste through an upper wall portion thereof; (ii) a plasma torch mounted in said reactor and providing when energized a source of heat within a lower portion of said reactor; (iii) a first outlet for extracting fuel gas through an upper wall portion of said reactor, and (iv) a second outlet for extracting slag through a lower wall portion of said reactor; (b) providing a supply of loose, uncompressed mixed solid waste; (c) converting said loose, uncompressed solid waste into compressed blocks of municipal waste; (d) transferring a selected number of said compressed solid waste blocks into said reactor through said inlet; (e) energizing said plasma torch so as to create said heat source; (f) maintaining said plasma torch operative for sufficient time to convert said blocks of solid waste within said reactor to a fuel gas and slag; (g) extracting said fuel gas through said first outlet; and (h) extracting said slag through said second outlet. 11. The process according to Claim 10 further including the steps of providing said supply at a first location, converting said waste to said compressed blocks at a second location and transferring said compressed blocks to said inlet at a third location. 12. The process according to Claim 10 further including the step of monitoring the level of waste in said reactor and in coordination therewith repeating the transfer of a selected number of said compressed blocks through said inlet whereby to maintain a selected level of said waste within said reactor and a substantially continuous generation of said fuel gas and slag. 13. The process according to Claim 10 further including the step of introducing a controlled amount of air into said reactor to maintain a controlled level of combustion therein. 14. The process according to Claim 10 further including the step of permitting die volume of uncompressed incoming waste created from said compressed blocks of waste transferred through said reactor inlet into said reactor to be preheated by fuel gas rising through said incoming waste and by reason of such preheating to form steam from die moisture contained in said incoming waste. 15. The process according to Claim 14 including the step of collecting and recirculating said steam through a zone within said reactor in which said fuel gas and slag are produced. 16. The process according to Claim 10, wherein the step of converting said loose, uncompressed solid waste blocks into compressed blocks comprises the step of fanning an elongate block of compressed waste and removing multiple blocks therefrom to form individual said compressed blocks.